With shifting legislation and a market that may not yet be ready to embrace electric sports cars, Porsche has reportedly been reevaluating the introduction of the electric 718 Cayman and Boxster, and that has cast doubt over the future of the production-bound Audi Concept C. Set to be a spiritual successor to the iconic TT, the new Audi electric sports car is expected to share technical details with the 718 EV, but an Audi spokesperson confirmed earlier this month that the project is alive and well, and now the company's CEO, Gernot Döllner, has told employees in an internal letter that Porsche won't leave Audi in the lurch as it prepares for a 2027 launch.
Audi Boss Says Porsche's Support Is "Not In Question"
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Döllner was unequivocal in his statement, writing, "The delivery of the platform by Porsche is not in question," adding that the project is "proceeding in good collaboration between Team Porsche and Team Audi." It seems, then, that Audi employees have been asking questions after those reports of the 718's potential cancellation, and this letter serves to reassure them that the project will remain on track. The news was first reported by German outlet Donaukurier, according to Autocar, which says Audi's new EV is internally known as the C-Sport. The British publication reports that the sports car, based on a heavily modified Premium Platform Electric architecture, measures 171.2 inches in length, and its battery is not floor-mounted, like most contemporary EVs.
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Instead, the pack from which the powertrain draws its power sits behind the occupants, which belies its Porsche roots. The electric sports car architecture was designed to feel mid-engined in an effort to preserve the 718's handling balance, and that will remain as Audi adapts the setup for the C-Sport.
Audi Concept C Influence Will Be Felt Across the Lineup
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Audi's new design boss, Massimo Frascella, was responsible for the design of the Concept C, and although its proportions preview a sports car, its aesthetics will eventually find their way to every other sort of Audi. Not only will the Concept C's unique styling influence future Audi models, but its minimalist approach to interior technology will also bleed into the rest of the lineup. At the beginning of the year, Frascella told Top Gear that Audi wants to return to understated cabins with tactile controls, and that means less reliance on big screens. We'll have to wait a little while before we see these changes, but with the C-Sport expected to arrive next year, teaser images and other information will start to dribble out of Ingolstadt before long.
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